That’s cool. Will we get stats for Venger? Will this mean the canon puts the 80’s cartoon in greyhawk? Will the alternate cover be Dungeon Master, or is that too on the nose? So many questions.
Honestly, i don't like it. But i also didn't liked the new PHB cover. The 2014 Covers were really great and hard to top. Especially the special covers. *chef's kiss*
If i buy it on dndbeyond, the covers are a "whatever" anyway. But for physical purchase, i have to wait if the special covers are to my taste, or not buy at all and be pure digital.
See, I haven't done a thorough side by side sit with the 2014 and 2024 art, but I keep feeling they're more stylistically in tune with each other, the PHB, and perhaps the DMGs, were done by the same artist ten years apart, and I think that decision or art direction was intentional. I think there's a messaging in the cover that the 2024 core isn't going that beyond, so to speak, what was created in 2014. It's a new image, but it's also very familiar. The special editions, I had a preference for Hydro74's work, but the soft touch art they've been putting out since Tasha's and sticking with it through this new core for some reason looks nicer in person more than it does on screen.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
So both 1D&D and 5e's DMGs share the theme of an undead wizard in command.
I like 5e's closeup on him to get the dramatics of seeing his undead form.
But the glowing blue eyes of the skeleton horde on the 1D&D cover are *chef's kiss* to my eyes. Plus the open arms with the lightning arc plus the directions of the swords held by the mini-bosses is a nice "welcome in, read this book" art to it. I like it.
Taste in art is different for each person. I just don't like the ones presented for the covers of 2024 so far. But looking back through the history of D&D covers of core books (PHB, DMG, MM), i only like the ones from 5e 2014. All others are... not that good. The special cover of 5e 2014 was the most amazing, and i would have loved if every book for 5e would have had that special style.
Wasn't a big fan of 5e covers. The PHB of Dungeons and Dragons had no suggestion of a Dungeon or a Dragon. Which is an irony carried over to its flagship starter set adventure - well, the lack of dragons, at least.
I quite like the 2024 Alt Cover, though I still prefer the normal to the 2014 one. They actually have dragons on there.
As for DMG...I'm torn. I like having the party present and having an actual action scene as opposed to a Lich's publicity picture. On the other hand, like the focus on the BBEG for the symbolism of the fact that the book is for the DM. Then again, the fact that 2024 version is in a dungeon as a counterpart to the PHB's dragon(s) is also fitting.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Count me as one of those not crazy for the new covers. They're not terrible, to be sure, but I don't think they're all that great, either.
I'm lukewarm on the 2014 core book covers, but I love the al covers. I wish they'd gone in that direction.
Frankly, I'm skeptical on the claims that the new core books will feature better art. Overall, I think the quality of 5E's art has dipped over the last ten years, with the latest pub (EVE OF RUIN) having some truly terrible art (the depiction of Vecna is shockingly bad and amateurish). It's disheartening that you can go to ArtStation or DeviantArt and find tons of fantastic art (art actually made by artists) that's far better than most of the art used in the books.
The books' art to me as previewed looks very much the same as what we get in 5e. Given they went with the same cover artist, it'd be surprising that they didn't stick with known quantities for the interior art, with maybe a modest number of additional people working on art.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
The guy in the helmet is one of the old action figures, though I'm blanking on the name.
AFAIK, the third one is new.
With the use of the action figures, I have to wonder if PCs will be able to have Battle-Matic(tm) Action?
Warduke?
Yep, it's Warduke. And the third character is Skylla?
Behind Venger there appears to be a big Dracolich (the eyes under his wings) - which suggests to me that all the books, both regular and alt covers, will feature some kind of dragon.
In a surprise move, feats are totally being redone and will now be called Battle-Matic(tm) Actions. So you get your Action, your bonus action, sometimes reactions, and if you have a feat you can call a Battle-Matic Action. D&D Beyond's board and the D&D Discord will get a consensus on how to run Battle-Matic Actions properly within the action economy sometime in Q2 2026.
I thought that might be Warduke, which kinda makes sense to have the DMs Guide be all NPCs doing lore or something while the PCs haven't hit the right level to contend with them.
I'm genuinely shocked to see Venger so front and centre, I know we were tol that the kid's from the cartoon's weapons would be included in the new books as magic items but I'm still surprised to see the villain so front and centre.
Also seems strange the reveal is being done in a UK tabloid paper rather than through a more TTRPG focused site or even a D&D youtuber
Who is the people depicted on the DMG cover? - Beside Venger
The guy in the helmet is Warduke and I believe the other is the spellcaster Skylla, they're both members of the League of Malevolence most recently seen in Wild Beyond the Witchlight and were part of the 80s D&D action figure range so a similar vintage to Venger
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That's pretty cool.
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(This is where I wish the alt covers were going the Hydro74 route, a Venger done up in their style would've been cool).
edit: corrected Hydro74's name h/t ModoStark
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Agreed, I love Hydro74's style.
Also interesting how they've inverted the red on black spine to distinguish it from 2014 books.
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That’s cool.
Will we get stats for Venger? Will this mean the canon puts the 80’s cartoon in greyhawk? Will the alternate cover be Dungeon Master, or is that too on the nose? So many questions.
Honestly, i don't like it. But i also didn't liked the new PHB cover. The 2014 Covers were really great and hard to top. Especially the special covers. *chef's kiss*
If i buy it on dndbeyond, the covers are a "whatever" anyway. But for physical purchase, i have to wait if the special covers are to my taste, or not buy at all and be pure digital.
See, I haven't done a thorough side by side sit with the 2014 and 2024 art, but I keep feeling they're more stylistically in tune with each other, the PHB, and perhaps the DMGs, were done by the same artist ten years apart, and I think that decision or art direction was intentional. I think there's a messaging in the cover that the 2024 core isn't going that beyond, so to speak, what was created in 2014. It's a new image, but it's also very familiar. The special editions, I had a preference for Hydro74's work, but the soft touch art they've been putting out since Tasha's and sticking with it through this new core for some reason looks nicer in person more than it does on screen.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
So both 1D&D and 5e's DMGs share the theme of an undead wizard in command.
I like 5e's closeup on him to get the dramatics of seeing his undead form.
But the glowing blue eyes of the skeleton horde on the 1D&D cover are *chef's kiss* to my eyes. Plus the open arms with the lightning arc plus the directions of the swords held by the mini-bosses is a nice "welcome in, read this book" art to it. I like it.
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Taste in art is different for each person. I just don't like the ones presented for the covers of 2024 so far. But looking back through the history of D&D covers of core books (PHB, DMG, MM), i only like the ones from 5e 2014. All others are... not that good. The special cover of 5e 2014 was the most amazing, and i would have loved if every book for 5e would have had that special style.
Wasn't a big fan of 5e covers. The PHB of Dungeons and Dragons had no suggestion of a Dungeon or a Dragon. Which is an irony carried over to its flagship starter set adventure - well, the lack of dragons, at least.
I quite like the 2024 Alt Cover, though I still prefer the normal to the 2014 one. They actually have dragons on there.
As for DMG...I'm torn. I like having the party present and having an actual action scene as opposed to a Lich's publicity picture. On the other hand, like the focus on the BBEG for the symbolism of the fact that the book is for the DM. Then again, the fact that 2024 version is in a dungeon as a counterpart to the PHB's dragon(s) is also fitting.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Count me as one of those not crazy for the new covers. They're not terrible, to be sure, but I don't think they're all that great, either.
I'm lukewarm on the 2014 core book covers, but I love the al covers. I wish they'd gone in that direction.
Frankly, I'm skeptical on the claims that the new core books will feature better art. Overall, I think the quality of 5E's art has dipped over the last ten years, with the latest pub (EVE OF RUIN) having some truly terrible art (the depiction of Vecna is shockingly bad and amateurish). It's disheartening that you can go to ArtStation or DeviantArt and find tons of fantastic art (art actually made by artists) that's far better than most of the art used in the books.
The books' art to me as previewed looks very much the same as what we get in 5e. Given they went with the same cover artist, it'd be surprising that they didn't stick with known quantities for the interior art, with maybe a modest number of additional people working on art.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
The guy in the helmet is one of the old action figures, though I'm blanking on the name.
AFAIK, the third one is new.
With the use of the action figures, I have to wonder if PCs will be able to have Battle-Matic(tm) Action?
Warduke?
Yep, it's Warduke. And the third character is Skylla?
Behind Venger there appears to be a big Dracolich (the eyes under his wings) - which suggests to me that all the books, both regular and alt covers, will feature some kind of dragon.
In a surprise move, feats are totally being redone and will now be called Battle-Matic(tm) Actions. So you get your Action, your bonus action, sometimes reactions, and if you have a feat you can call a Battle-Matic Action. D&D Beyond's board and the D&D Discord will get a consensus on how to run Battle-Matic Actions properly within the action economy sometime in Q2 2026.
I thought that might be Warduke, which kinda makes sense to have the DMs Guide be all NPCs doing lore or something while the PCs haven't hit the right level to contend with them.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I'm genuinely shocked to see Venger so front and centre, I know we were tol that the kid's from the cartoon's weapons would be included in the new books as magic items but I'm still surprised to see the villain so front and centre.
Also seems strange the reveal is being done in a UK tabloid paper rather than through a more TTRPG focused site or even a D&D youtuber
Who is the people depicted on the DMG cover? - Beside Venger
The guy in the helmet is Warduke and I believe the other is the spellcaster Skylla, they're both members of the League of Malevolence most recently seen in Wild Beyond the Witchlight and were part of the 80s D&D action figure range so a similar vintage to Venger